The Californian from Salinas, California • 6

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 CALIFORNIA Assemblywoman banished Dem's office moved for no vote on budget -J 1 i THE ASSOCIATED PRESS By JUDY LIN The Associated Press SACRAMENTO A Democratic member of the Assembly was kicked out of her Capitol office Monday for not supporting the party's state budget proposal Assemblywoman Nicole Parra of Hanford said she was not surprised about being punished for abstaining from Sunday night's budget vote, but was "a little taken back" by Democratic leaders' decision to move her office across the street from the Capitol to another state building. The budget package, which included $6.6 billion in higher taxes, fell nine votes short of the two-thirds majority needed for approval on a 45-30 roll calL All the no votes were cast by Republicans. Parra was the only Democrat present who didn't vote for it. Parra, who represents a farm-heavy district in the Central Valley, said she wants lawmakers to approve a comprehensive water project package before she's willing to vote for the budget She's backing a $9.3 billion water bond proposed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Gov.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, which includes some money for dams and underground storage, as well as billions to clean up contaminated groundwater and improve conservation. Office relocations have long been used by legislative leaders Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, left, talks with Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont, after learning that she was being moved out of her Capitol office Monday. switching parties and has said kind words about the Republican candidate vying to fill her Assembly seat Berg said the Democratic Party has spent millions backing Parra in her three Assembly elections, but Parra said she worked hard to get herself elected. "If anyone were to say that only the money helped me get re-elected, I'd like them to say it to my face," Parra said. Two other Democrats missed Sunday's vote.

Berg said Assemblyman Alberto Torrico of Fremont was stuck at an airport and Assemblywoman Nell Soto of Pomona was ilL to punish members who stray. Last year, Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, R-Orange, said he was relegated to the "Doghouse," the Capitol's smallest office, for butting heads with Democratic leaders on prison and public safety issues. And Assemblyman Juan Aram-bula, D-Fresno, occupied the 391-square-foot office for a time after he failed to vote for any of the 2006 infrastructure bonds. But the move of Parra's office across the street from the Capitol to another state building is more rare. Assembly Chief Administrative Officer Jon Waldie said he's not seen a member move out of the Capitol in the 14 years he's been in the post Assemblywoman Patty Berg, one of the Democratic caucus leaders, said Parra should have stuck with Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, and not the interests of agribusinesses.

"There are two things you do when you're in the majority party in this Assembly," Berg said. "One is to vote on your leader and two, is vote on the budget" Parra, who will be termed out of office in November, has run into conflicts with her leaders before. She has considered State fines 18 hospitals $25,000 Levies for care problems; some lead to death Education News Events Compiled from staff reports PEOPLE Matsui Foundation announces scholarships The Matsui Foundation has announced the 17 winners of the 2008 Matsui Scholarship. The Matsui Scholarship was established to provide monetary awards to graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated the potential for success in college but are experiencing economic hardship that would preclude their ability to pursue higher education. Each scholarship is a $40,000 award, paid out in equal installments over four years.

The recipients: Alan CarriRo, Alisal High School; Hector Edgar Sandoval, Everett Alvarez High School; Kathryn M. Kane, Carrnel High School; GabrieSe Nicole Ramirez, Gonzales High School; Laura Mora, Greenfield High School; Daniel Aaron Soto, King City High School; Anabel ResencHz, Monterey High School; Diane Casper, North Monterey County High School; Eduardo Sofa, North Salinas High School; Stehry Barr, Pacific Grove High School; Cecillia Cardenas, Salinas High School; Car-ofina Garcia, Seaside High School; Norma Pbano, Soledad High School. The $20,000 community college scholarships have been made to the following: Daniel Chains, Hartnell College; Leonel Medrano, Hartnell College; Joshua Barrier, Monterey Peninsula College; Lashandra Batiste, Monterey Peninsula College. Garcia-Anderson is new assistant principal The Salinas Union High School Board appointed Patricia Garcia-Anderson as assistant principal at Everett Alvarez High School on Aug. 12.

Her appointment is effective for the 2008-09 school year. Garcia has served as a bilingual math teacher, math department chairwoman and math resource teacher at La Paz Middle School since 200L She previously taught bilingual math at Everett Alvarez. Grova named Hartnell's VP of Advancement Hartnell College has named Beverly Grova to the position of vice president of advancement Grova had been serving Hartnell as the dean of advancement and development She also serves as executive director of the Hartnell College Foundatioa Grova has led advancement efforts at Hartnell for the last three years. Local students make Azusa dean's list The following students made the spring 2008 academic deans' list at Azusa Pacific University. They are honored for semester grade-point average of 35 or above.

Pacific Grove: Whitney P. Bridges, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Bridges; PoBy J.

Feeney, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Knox; MicbeBe K. Park, daughter of Serl Park; Peter F. Stone, son of Mr.

and Mrs. Linda Stone. Salinas: Jeremy E. Carr, son of Mr. and Mrs.

Lester E. Michete E. Ferga-son, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Fergason; LBy M.

McGuire, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James R. McGuire; Natalie M. MoKoso, daughter of Mr.

and. Mrs. Rogerio Mortoso. Pninedale: Carta NLFetten, daughter of Eugene A. Ferten.

Monterey. Christian E. Gross, son Of Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Gross; Peter Tvrznik, son of Alena Tvrzruk.

Hollisten Elizabeth A. Grower, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dean Grover. Newton is astronomy educator of the year The Fremont Peak Observatory Association awarded Hartnell College Planetarium Director Andy Newton with its Educator of the Year award at the association's annual fundraising star party and barbecue on Aug.

2. Newton was recognized for his role in establishing and implementing the Hartnell College student internship program. The program, now in its third year, "has made a tremendous contribution to the success of the educational mission of the Fremont Peak Observatory," said Observa- tory Association Board President Doug Brown. SCHOOLS NEWS It EVENTS appears Monday in Community. We invite news Items, photos and story ideas regarding Individual achievement, educators, schools, higher education and related topics.

Send in a timely manner in care of COMMUNI-TVSCH00LS. See "Share your news" on the section front for details. endangered the lives of several patients. The hospitals were each fined $25,000 the latest of dozens of penalties the state has issued in recent years to more than 40 hospitals. "The number of penalties will decrease and the quality of care will dramatically improve as hospitals take action to improve," said Kathleen Billingsley, director of the health department's Center for Healthcare Quality.

"The entire intent of these fines is to improve the overall quality of care in California." The report detailed a death at a La Mesa hospital in which a worker failed to turn on a ventilator for a patient who was being transferred. Another patient in Los Alamitos died after falling from a wheelchair with no seat gical instruments or sponges left inside their bodies during surgery, requiring a second surgery to retrieve the misplaced items. The report also found some patients experienced surgical awareness during their proce- dures due to improper anesthesia. The state cited Palomar-Pomerado Health System in Poway, saying that "the hospital' failed to maintain its anesthesia equipment in proper functioning order. As a result, three patients experienced surgical awareness during surgical pro-' cedures." A message seeking comment from Palomar Pomerado was not returned The state has issued 61 such penalties to 42 hospitals, Billingsley said.

belt on, and a Santa Ana hospital lost a patient from a medication overdose. At Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo, a registered nurse improperly inserted a catheter into a patient's neck vein on Sept and the patient died as a result of an air bubble from the tube. The report found the nurse had not completed a required anatomy class or the hospital's training on protocol Defending himself in the report, the unidentified male nurse told investigators, "I am the pro of the hospital The other nurses call me to put in IVs that they cannot get in." A message seeking comment from medical center was not returned Monday. In other cases, patients had sur By SHAYA TAYEFE M0HAJER The Associated Press LOS ANGELES Eighteen hospitals were fined Monday for state health code violations in which patients died from various mishaps such as an improperly inserted tube, and a ventilator that wasn't turned on. Other vio-' lations include surgical tools left inside patients after surgery.

The fines stem from investigations by the California Department of Public Health that found shoddy care had either killed or HOSPITAL FINES LIST pediatric patients in the ER The hospital failed to supply screening examinations and stabilizing medical care and treatment in a timely manner for two patients. Kaiser Foundation Hospital (Fresno) The hospital failed to establish safe and effective systems to accurately and quickly determine pediatric doses of emergency medications. Kaiser Foundation Hospital (Riverside) The hospital failed to prescribe, administer, and monitor medication in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications on safe use of medication. Los Alamitos Medical Center (Los Alamitos) The hospital failed to use a seat belt while the patient was in a wheelchair. The patient fell and died due to the fall.

Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center (Los Angeles) The hospital failed to provide adequate nursing staffing for a suicide watch and meet the needs of a patient. San Gorgonino Memorial The California Department of Public Health has fined each of the following hospitals $25,000 for the following health code violations: Anaheim General Hospital (Anaheim) The hospital failed to ensure medical devices were electrically safe and functioning within manufacturer's guidelines. Further, the hospital did not ensure the safety of patients by preventing access to dangerous items and ensuring that the patients were protected from extreme environmental temperatures. The hospital also failed to maintain the pharmacy's refrigerated temperatures in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations to ensure stability, potency and safety of medications requiring refrigeration. Coastal Communities Hospital (Santa Ana) The hospital failed to ensure the safety of a patient when an excessive dose of a medication was administered resulting in the patient's death.

Desert Regional Medical Center (Palm Springs) The hospital failed to investigate a sexual abuse allegation. Doctors Medical Center (San Pablo) The hospital failed to ensure facility staff followed policies and procedures for the treatment of a patient with critically low laboratory test results. As a result of these failures, the patient died. The hospital also failed to ensure that licensed staff were competent and trained to insert intravenous catheters for the administration of fluids and nutrition. Fountain Valley Regional Hospital (Fountain Valley) The hospital failed to ensure that retention of surgical sponges after surgery did not occur.

As a result a patient had to undergo a second surgery to remove a sponge that was left in the patient Grossmont Hospital (La Mesa) The hospital failed to activate a stationary ventilator during a transfer of the patient from a transport ventilator resulting in the patient's death. Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian (Newport Beach) The hospital failed to ensure that retention of surgical instruments after surgery did not occur. As a result a patient had to undergo a second surgery to remove a surgical instrument left in the patient after surgery. Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (Torrance) The hospital failed to accurately label tissue specimens, which led to unnecessary surgery for one patient and resulted in a delayed treatment of another patient The hospital also failed to provide for the health and safety of patients accessing treatment in the emergency department by not providing emergency crash carts with necessary drugs to treat life threatening cardiac situations. This failure resulted in a potential for death in the treatment of patients in emergency cardiac situations.

Loma Lmda University Medical Center (Loma Linda) The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when a potentially fatal overdose of a medication was administered to the patient Palomar Pomerado Health System (Poway) The hospital failed to maintain its anesthesia equipment in proper functioning order As a result three patients experienced surgical awareness during surgical procedures. Promise Hospital of San Diego The hospital allowed an unlicensed staff person to function as a licensed i nurse .) Saint Agnes Hospital (Fresno) The hospital failed to ensure a system was developed and implemented to indentify, report, investigate and control surgical site infections for 1 cardiopulmonary surgeries, Scripps Green Hospital (San Diego) The hospital failed to ensure the patient safely in the surgical department when a patient fell off an operating table during surgery. Hospital (Banning) The hospital failed to have the correct drugs for treatment of emergencies in the emergency department post anesthesia care unit surgery and radiology areas. Further, the hospital failed to have the appropriate equipment and supplies to treat.